Hook for aircraft cargo handling apparatus



Aug. .23, 1932.

HOOK FOR AIRCRAFT CARGO HANDLING APPARATUS M. CASTRQ 15739822 Filed Aug.l, 1929 5 Sheets-Sheet l Aug. 23, 1932. M` CASTRQ 1,8?35822 i HOOK FORAIRCRAFT CARGO HANDLING APPARATUS Filed Aug. l, 1929 5 Sheets-Sheet 2g.` 23, 1932;. M CASTRO Y 1;,873,822

HOOK FOR AIRCRAFT CARGO HANDLING APPARATUS Filed Aug. 1. 1929 5Sheets-Sheet 5 M Fasi/70 Patented Aug. 23, 1932 MANUEL CASTRO, orCANTON, onto i Hooxron AiacaArT CARGO HANDLING APPAnATUsApplication*ineaA August 1, 1929.Y seriifNo. 352,614. Y

My invention relates to apparatus for pick` V ing up and discharging a.cargo from aircraft in flight, and the present inventionis acontinuation in part of and includes :im- 6 provements of the apparatusset forth in my prior application for patent for Hooks for aircraftcargo handling apparatus, filed November 3, 1928, Serial No. 317 ',059which is now Patent No. 1,729,029, dated Sept. 24, 10 1929.

ySuch apparatus necessarily includes elements operatively mounted on theground,- or on a ground structure, or on a ship,herein after termed theground elements, for posill tioning the cargo to be pickedup and forreceivingthe cargo to be discharged, and also includes elementsoperatively mounted on the aircraft, hereinafter termed vthe aircraftelements, for cooperating With the ground elements in picking up anddischarging cargo. A fundamental requirement for the success fuloperation of such apparatus, is to impart to the cargo to be picked upfrom rest, the required acceleration so that it Will attain the velocityor flying speed of the aircraft Without reducing the flying speedof theaircraft to any considerable extent.

For example it is estimated that for an aircraft of 2,000 pounds gross.load (total Weight lifted), and With sufficient excess power to climb300 ft. /min.,there is available sufiicient excess thrust to provide aforce of approximately 97 .5 lbs. at 70 M. P.fH. iyingspeed, for use inimparting to the cargo being picked up from rest the necessaryaccelerationso that it Will attain the desired velocity. Under thesecircumstances the distance required to be covered by the cargo from theinstant it is connected with the pick up means n until it attains thespeed of the aircraft is asV follows: Y

' Feet For 50 lbs. cargo, distance 84.3

For 410 lbs. cargo, distance .67.5 Forr30 lbs. cargo, distance 50.6 yFor20 lbs. cargo, distance 33.7 For 10 lbs. cargo, distance 16.9

In other'words, it is necessary for the successful operation of suchapparatus that the pick up means bese'cured to a cable Which i ispermitted an extension of `84.3, V67 .5, 50.6, 33.7, or'16.9 feet'accordingto. the loadl to be picked up, asV aforesaid. .-z L

I disclose means for accomplishing.y .the foregoing in my priorapplication for patent for Cargo handlingl apparatus for aircraft andythe like, filed October .2,y 1928,;Serial No. 309,881, and in thedivisional application thereof, entitled Reels for air-craft cargohandling apparatus, filed November 3, 1928, Serial No. 317 ,060, whichisv noWiPatentfNo. 1,809,286 dated June 9,1931. f

The objects of the present 'inventionv iny clude the provision ofimproved vhook or 05 combined pick up and discharge means,.moreparticularly for theimproved cargo handling Y apparatusfor aircraftandthelike of my aforesaid prior application,`in which theair.-

craft elements'include the pickup andfdis- 'm charge means, a cableuponl which the pick up means are secured, and yieldingmeansforpermitting thenecessary extension. of they cablefor impartingtheaforesaid acceleration to the cargo being picked" up'from rest.

Further objects of theV inventionwinclude the provision of 4'guard/meansfor the Vimproved hook or combine'drpick up land discharge means. f l Yl Further objects of the inventionzinclude the provision of improvementsin the detail construction and arrangement. ofthe combined pick up anddischargeV means. f l f These and ancillary objectsaref attained in theimproved hook for aircraft cargo'handling apparatus and -the like4comprising the present invention,v a Ypreferred embodiment of Which ishereinafter set forth in detail,1and is illustratedin the accompanyingdrawings formingfpart hereof, in which Y 5 Figure 1 is a fragmentaryelevationlview, With portions in section, illustrating one embodiment ofthe improved combined pick up hook and discharge tongs inuseWithvotherimproved aircraft elements of aircraftcargo handlingapparatus, f ,i

IFig. 2, a longitudinal sectional view ofthe combined pick up hookanddischarge tongs' Withfits auxiliary shield actuator inplace forpermitting operation only of the discharge tongs;

Fig. 3, a fragmentary view of the improved shield actuator support inthe aircraft, looking in the direction of the arrows 3 3, Fig. l;

Fig. 4, an enlarged longitudinal axial sectional view, of the aforesaidembodiment of the improved combined pick up hook and discharge tongs,the tongs being in closed po* sition for carrying cargo to bedischarged;

Fig. 5, a fragmentary Viewv similar to Fig. 4, the tongs having beenactuated to open for discharging the cargo Fig. 6, a fragmentaryelevation view thereof, as in the direction of arrows 6 6, Fig. 4;

Fig. 7, a fragmentary vertical sectional view thereof, as on line 7 7,Fig. 4;

Fig. 8, a plan sectional view thereof, as on line 8 8, Fig. 4 showingthe hook arms in elevation;

Fig. 9, a plan View thereof, as in the direction of the arrows 9 9, Fig.4, illustrating the hook engaging a cargo connectingV cable for `pickingup the cargo secured at the ends of the cable, and for actuating thedischarge tongs to open; Y

Fig. l0, a view' similar to Fig. 4, illustrating another embodiment ofthe combined pick up hook and discharge tongs; and

F ig.' 11, another similar view illustrating another embodiment of thecombined pick up hook and discharge tongs. f

Similar numerals refer to similar parts throughout the drawings.

The embodiment of the improved combined pick up hook and discharge tongsindicated generally at 2O in Figs. l to 9, inclusive, is illustrated inFig. l in combination with other improved elements comprising aircraftelements of aircraft cargo handling apparatus.

Aircraft cargo handling apparatus usually includes ground elements andaircraft elements. Of the ground elements for the purposes of settingforth the present invention, it is only necessary to illustrate thecargo connecting cable 2l, in Figs. l and 9.

The cargo connecting cable 2l has cargo carrying bags C or the likesecured at its outer ends, and may be preferably used in connection withthe other ground elements set forth in my aforesaidA prior applicationfor Letters Patent, Serial No. 309,881. The present improved aircraftelements of the cargo handling apparatus, in addition to the improvedcombined pick up hook and discharge tongs 20, includes a reel 22,preferably embodying the improvements set forth in my aforesaid priorapplication for patent, and acable 23, preferably releasably connectedat its opposite ends with the hook and'tongs 2O and theV reel 22,respectively.

The reel end of the cable may be releasably secured to the reel 22, asis set forth in detail in my aforesaid prior applications'for patent,whereby if the cable 23 becomes entirely unwound from the reel by reasonof the fact that the pick up hook has become engaged with an imino-vableobject, the reel end of the cable will automatically become disconnectedfrom the reel, thus releasing the aircraft and preventing loss of flyingspeed.

The cable 23 is of a substantial length sufliient for being payed outvfrom the reel against a suitable unwinding reaction as for example thereaction of a friction brake 22', in order that the aforesaidacceleration may be imparted to the cargo rbeing picked up withoutcausing a reduction in the aircraft flying speed. l

rlhe cable 23 passes through an improved combined cable guide and shieldactuator support, indicated generally at 24, which is operativelymount-ed in the aircraft fuselage 25.

The cable guide and actuator support 24 i cludes a bracket 26 mountedbeneath the reel 22 for sliding towards and away from the reel on theshaft 27 extending between upper and lower members of the fuselage.

Adjacent the reel 22, cable guide rollers 28 are mounted on the-bracket26, and the cable 23 passes between the guide rollers.

Belo-w the rollers 28, a split ring actuator support 29 .is also carriedby the bracket 26, and the cable 23 may be introduced into or removedfrom the split ring support 29 by being passed between the opposite ends29a and 29?) ofthe ring.

A tong actuator 30 is removably mounted in the support 29, andpreferably includes an 4inner tube 30a from the upper end of whichextends an inverted mushroom bowl 30o.

The cable 23 extends through the tube 30a,

and the outer end of the cable is removably connected with the combinedpick up hook and discharge tongs 20.

Wrhen the actuator 30 is mounted as illustrated in Fig. l. by insertionof the tub-e 30a through the split ring` support 29, the combined hookand tongs 2O is adapted for operation to pick up and discharge cargosimultaneously as will hereinafter be set forth in detail. Y

When it is desired only to discharge a cargo, the Iguard actuator 30 isremo-ved from the support 29 and assumes the position illustrated inFig. 2, in which position the outer curved surface of the bowl 305 will.strike and slide over a cable 2l arranged for the purpose withsuiiicient force to operate the tongs to discharge a cargo.

The provision of the support 29 for removably mounting the actuato-r 30within the fuselage, obviates the necessity of engaging and disengagingthe outer end of the cable 23 from the cargo pick up and dischargemeans, that is,r the combined hook and tongs 20, for applying orremoving the actuator to or from the hook and tongs 20.

Tilo

vfThefjmountingofthe-bracket 26 for sliding on thes'haft 27 permits the?roller guides 28 to be normally l'ocaied in the preferred positionadjacent the bottom ofthe fuselage when the cable 23 is being payed outby the reel 22,and also permits the hook and tongs 2O tobe drawn upwithin the fuselage vfor renioving cargo bags C which have been pickedup and/0r for removing the actuator 30V-from its support 2 9, and/ orfor connecting al 'cargoto'be discharged to the tongs.

The outer end of the cable23 is removably connected with the cargo pickup anddischarge means 20 Vpreferably by: passing through a longitudinalbore 31 in a shank 32, and-the extremity of the cable being knottedtolform 'an enlarged head 33 which fits in a side opening socket 34 inthe shank at the inner Aend of and communicating with the bore 312 Y iThe shank 32 extends outwardly and coaxially with the longitudinal axisof the cargo ick up-and discharge means 20,' which includes a tubularhead 35 having an outer end bore '36 of Yreduced diameter intowhich theshank 32 extends with a sliding fit.

--The outer end of th-e shank 32 is preferably in the form of ,a conethe base of which is slightlyv enlarged in diameter as compared with thediameter of the shank proper.V The outer end of the tubular head-35 isalso conical', and the conical outer surfaces of the,

shank headand tubularhead flare outwardly fromthe cable y23,V so thatwhen the reel cable 23 strikes a cargo connecting cable 21, the shank 32andtubular head 35 will be dragged easily.v over the cargo connectingcable.

The other end 3 7 vof the tubular head 35 is preferably cylindric, andis provided withinternal threads in which an externally threaded jawmounting plug 38 is screwed for adjustablepositioning at a desiredlongitudinal lo'cation.

' VV'lhejaw mounting vplug 38 has a longitudinally extendingcentral bore39 formed therein, and one end of the bore vis internally threaded andscrewl mounts the externally threaded end 40 of a set of tubular springj aws 41', which extend through and out of the plug bore'towards 4theshank.-

'1'Theheads`42 of the jaws are located o utsideof the mounting plug, andthe spring' of the'jaws normally tends to displace the jaw heads awayfrom each other.

Accordingly the gripping powerof the aw heads depends on the relativeaxial position ofthe jawsand the plug, and may be varied by screwing thethreaded end 40 of the jaws in opposite directions in the plug. 1

The en d 43 vof the shank 32 within the tubular Vhead 35l is conicallytapered from an apex at its extremity towards the central portion' ofthe.'V shank and at the base of the tapered end,- the shank has formedtherein aL neck groove 44 into which the jaw heads 42 extend forVgripping the shank rend with a variable force. 'A Accordingly, lthejawsv 41 maybe ris-aforesaid for example,'so that ifa force 'of morethan 250 pounds is applied upon the pickup and discharge means 20opposite in direction to the pull of the `cable .23, the jaw heads 42will spring out' ofthe 'neck' groove 44, and the cable shank 32 will beautomatically disconnected from the pick up and disf charge means, eventhough the cable has not been entirelyunwound from the reel. f

The automatic releasing of thereel end' of thefcable from the reel, andofthe' outer end of the cable from the pick up land discharge means isessential in-order'to insure that the aircraft will maintain 'flyingspeed regardless of the magnitude ofthe forceap'pliedfto theV pick upanddischargemeans. Y y

In the internally threaded end37 of-lthe head 35, one externallythreaded end 45 of a hook and aw mounting member 46is screwed agidpreferably locked as by :means ofa'pin VThe end 45 ofthe member46vhas`af'cylindric bore 48 formedfthereim and a hook mounting and tongVactuating piston"49 is mounted for'longitu'dinal sliding in the. bore.The end 45 of the member 46also has a plurality oflongitudinally'extending notches 50 formed therein and-communicatingwith the bore 48. A hook arm mountingweb 51 ispreferably removablysecured upon the end of the piston 49 within the bore, asbymeans ofaf'oa'p screw'52. f* f' The web 5.1 includes'acentral 'hub' 53 frompiston 49. Acompression spring 59 is inter--l posed between theshoulders 57 land 58- andl normally urges the piston wards the head35'.r y I The piston 49V extends outwardly-beyond and hook armstotheshoulder 57, and 'themember 46 prefer? ably includes at its' outerend,'laterally-spaoed longitudinally extending "side vbars 60a and 601),each preferably having-'an end notch 61 formed vvtherein, 'and' the sidebars being preferably connected Aat' the -base of their notches by abridge member 62.? v

A laterally' extending pivot pin *63 is mounted at -its opposite endsinthe vside bars 60a and bbetween the bridge member A'62 and theshoulder `57. l i" 'i y Discharge tongs 64 and `64. are.' pivotallymounted on the pivot pim-andthe tongs are preferably in the lformofbell" cranks including, respectively, actuating arms 65 and 65'extending out-Wardlyfrom opposite sides of thezpivot pin, between thebars a and 60?), and gripping arms 66 and 66' extending downwardly fromthek pivot pin between the side bars60a and 60?).

The; outer ends of the actuating arms and65' are pivotally connectedwith the outer ends of links 67 and 67', respectively; and the innerendsof the links are pivotally connected with the outer end of the piston bya common pin 68. f Y Y From the outer ends of the gripping arms 66 and`66", hook4 tongues 69 and69' extend toward each other for loverlappingWhen in the; closed position illustrated in Fig. 4, and engagingY an eye70 at the endof a cable secured to the cargoy bagvto be discharged.

, Accordingly When` the piston is moved to- Wards the tongs, either bydirect engagement of one or more of the hook arms With a cargoconnecting cable 21, or by engagement of the actuator 30, when in useWith an actuating cable 21'; the tongs Will be actuated to separatev thehook tongues69 and 69', thereby dis engaging the same from the eye 70. Y

A guard member 71 is preferably provided for the pick up and dischargemeans 20, and may include a tube 7,2 having a central transverse Web 73through which the member 46 extends. The outer end of the cylindriclportionofl the member ,46 is externally threaded and-.nuts 74 and 7 4'`are screwed thereon and 'clamp against oppositefaces of the web.

The end of the tube 72 about the hook arms 56 is. providedl with notches7 5 for receiving the-cargo connecting cable 21, The notches 7 5 arepreferably greater in Width at their f inner ends than at their outerends transv versely for facilitating the reception of the cab1e21, as isbest illustrated in Figs. 8 and 9. The guard member 71 providesprotectionfor the various parts ofthe discharge means againstvdamagethereto from colliding with any `part of the ground structure providedfor positioning rthe cargo to be picked up and for receiving the cargotobe discharged, or from' bumping against any part of the fuselage oftheaircraft.

The reel shaft 95 is journaled in a suitable reel` `mounting bracket 96,and the ends of the shaft extend outwardly therefrom, and a gear Wheel97 is secured at one end ofthe shaft 95 and arranged to be selectivelyengaged by a drive pinionA 98 secured onV a sliding stub shaft 99, Whichis slidably and rotatably mounted in asuitable U extension 100 of thereel mounting bracket 96, so that the driving pinion 9S may be engagedand disengaged With the gear Wheel 97.`

V-'The outer end of the stub shaft 99 is provided with a removable drivecrank 101.

"A spring kpressed paWl 102. isl pivotally Ilwlmtedl 0n the reelbracket96: for selective engagement With the gear Wheel 97 for permittingeither ratching of the reel shaft when the crank 101 isrotated toreel-in the cable 23, or free rotation of the reel.

For applying the necessary unWindi-ng; reaction to provide for thepaying out` of the cable 23 after hooking a cargo the friction brake 22'may include a spring pressed brake shoe 103 suitably mounted in theframe 96, and a lever pawl 104e is provided for selectively maintainingthe brake shoe inl or out of operative position.

Thevcargo handling apparatus for aircraft thus described, is used forpicking up and discharging cargo by arranging the ground elements sothat the cable 21 is horizontal, and by paying out the cable 23 from theaircraft reel 22, a suitable distance depending on the Weight of thecargo to be discharged Which is carried by the combined pick up hook anddischarge tongs 20, the tongues69 and 69', as aforesaid, passing throughthe eye 70 connected with the cargo to be dis charged. 1

In the .day-time the pilot on the oncoming aircraft may guide the.aircraft by flying between, flag `signals at the proper height; in

night-time operation,v the pilot steers his course by the intersectionof the beams of search lights.

rl'he cable r23V Will first strike the cable 21 connecting the cargos Cto be picked up, and the reel cable 28 will be dragged over the;transversely extending cargo connectingl cable 21, until one of the hookarms 56 hooks against e the transversely extending cargo connectingcable 21; when the iirst action of the moving combined pick upanddischarge means 20 stiikingthe stationary cargo connecting cable 21,Will be to operate the tong I arms 64 and 6ft' to discharge the cargo C.

Simultaneously, the hook arm 56 will have caught the transverselyextending cable 21 and due to the yielding 4resistance of the un-Winding reaction provided by the spring pressed break shoe 103, thecable 23 Will first be'payed out until a velocity has been imparted tothe picked up cargo equa-l to the velocity of the aircraft, the distancethat the cable is required-to be payed out, depending as aforesaid ontheweight of the cargo to be picked up. Y l

Vhen the pickedup cargo has attained the velocity of the movingaircraft, the pilot or other operator in the aircraft may turn the crank101 to reelrin the cable and bring the picked-up cargo Within theaircraft, after which the cable may `be reeled out for discharging andpicking up other cargoes.

The modified embodiment of the improved pick-up and discharge means 120`illustrated in Fig. 10, includes an inner piston 121 at the outer endof Which tongs 122 and 122' are pivotally mounted and actuated by anouter sleevev 124 Von-'Which hook arms 124' are mounted. Theouter end ofthe sleeve 124 is slot and pivot connected with the tongs 122 and 122.The piston 121 is connected with a cable 123 by means similar to thatset forth for the embodiment 20. A compression spring 125 is interposedbetween shoulders formed on the piston and sleeve for normallymaintaining the tongs in the closed position.

The other modified embodiment 220 illustrated in Fig. 11, includes amounting member 221 at the outer end of which longitudinally extendingspring arms 222 and 222 are secured and terminate in hook tongues 223and 223', respectively. A piston 224 is slidably mounted within themember 221 and carries hook arms 224. At the outer end of the piston224, a cam 225 is secured for coacting against cams 226 and 226 carriedon the spring arms arms and tongues are separated by reciprocation ofthe piston. A compression spring 227 is interposed between shouldersformed on the piston and mounting member for normally maintaining thetongues in closed position.

I claim:

1. Aircraft cargo handling apparatus including combined cargo pick upand discharge means adapted to be carried at the end of a cable, andguard means for the pick up and discharge means.

2. Aircraft cargo handling apparatus including a member for connectionwith a cable, tongs operatively mounted on the member, a hook slidablymounted on the member, means operatively connecting the tongs and thehook, and guard means for the tongs and hook. I

3. Aircraft cargo handling apparatus including cargo discharge meansadapted to be carried at the end of a cable, and slotted guard means forthe discharge means.

4. Aircraft cargo handling apparatus in-v cluding combined cargo pick upand `discharge means adapted to be carried at the end of a cable, andAslotted guard means for the pick up and discharge means.

5. Aircraft cargo handling apparatus including a member for connectionwith a cable, tongs operatively mounted on the member, a

hook slidab-ly mounted on the member, means operatively connecting thetongs and the hook, and slotted guard means for the tongs and hook.

6. Aircraft cargo handling apparatus including cargo discharge meansadapted to be carried at the end of a cable, and combined guard andactuator means for the ldischarge means. l

7 Aircraft cargo handling apparatus including a cable, cargo dischargemeans carried at the end of the cable, and actuator means for thedischarge means, the actuator means being slidably mounted on the cable.

8. Aircraft cargo handling apparatus in- 222 and 222, whereby the ydischarge means, the actua-tor means being 7o slidably mounted on thecable.

In testimony that I claim the above, I have hereunto subscribed my name.

vimmuni. CASTRO.

